Setback for South Africa’s Driving Licence Card System Overhaul

South Africa's ambitious project to revamp its driving licence card system has hit another stumbling block, missing the promised launch by the end of March 2024. Current Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga recently conveyed to TopAuto the ongoing struggles faced by the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) in obtaining a new printer, crucial to the production of the redesigned cards.

Fikile Mbalula, the former transport minister, had announced this technological update with an expectation of modernizing the country's licensing system. However, Chikunga now suggests that multiple tender withdrawals and complex procurement processes have led to this significant postponement.

The delays are attributed to the intricate nature of the bidding required for the printer, and the due diligence that necessitates site inspections. Chikunga maintains that the procurement should conclude no later than the end of the financial year, stretching beyond the initial roll-out timeframe.

The road to acquiring the state-of-the-art printer, equipped to implement modern anti-forgery measures, is far from over. Post-tender finalization, the machine will undergo rigorous trials to assure that it meets quality standards, a process further extending the timeline.

The government's optimistic scenario pegs the beginning of the pilot within four months of the printer's installation, which if going by the best-case scenario, places the earliest operational date post-September 2024. This is a far cry from the earlier timeline provided by Mbalula, who had planned for an end of March 2024 phase-out of the existing driving licence cards.

Incidents like the breakdown of the country's singular two-decade-old card printer in November 2021 have caused substantial setbacks, leaving motorists disgruntled and renewals backed up. The pandemic's disruptions only exacerbated a system already criticized for inefficiencies and corruption. Despite the Transport Department's justification of security for maintaining a single printer system, calls have risen for better, more reliable measures.

The upgradation is not just about a new printer but entails the ushering in of an entire system designed for speed, efficiency, and harder-to-counterfeit cards aligned with global practices. The revised validity period, extending from five to eight years as per Mbalula's announcement, also hangs in the balance amidst these delays.

Motorists, stakeholders, and civil organizations continue to eye the department for concrete progress as the country gears up for a driver's licence system compatible with its international counterparts.